As an introverted business owner who spends a significant number of hours a month meeting new people, I have developed my own list of networking best practices.

They fall into two categories:

Cat 1: Universal practices to help anyone make the most of networking events.

Cat 2: Practices unique to the introverted individual.

Cat 1 includes commonsense practices like:

– Know why you are attending (e.g. researching a particular networking group).
– Have a focus for the session (e.g. meet two new people today).
– Prepare (e.g. know who is attending and think about possible synergies).
– Make it easy for others to connect (e.g. bring business cards, LinkedIn QR code).

Cat 2 is different: we are looking at networking through the lens of the communication style, temperament, and energy characteristic of introverts.

Introverts have a strong preference for 1:1 conversations, are excellent listeners, and eschew small talk. Their energy gets quickly drained during social interactions, especially in loud and fast-paced environments.

So instead of blindly adhering to the generic advice about networking, I would recommend that you get good at three things:

– Operate from your strengths (e.g. aim for two meaningful conversations instead of trying to “work the room”).
– Be intentional, open, and curious (this will leave a more memorable impression than any amount of small talk).
– Put your energy into being present, authentic, and listening deeply (this will help you build trust and rapport the right way).